Just a quick note to let you know I am working feverishly to put together a program that will hopefully work… Reader response to my earlier post was simply overwhelming. At last count, readers had indicated a desire to take roughly 300+ t-shirts and 100+ tote bags (even though the latter wasn’t originally suggested) which translates into a stunning PHP200,000 in funds raised for public school feeding programs if I can figure this all out. Of course some folks may drop off and others may be abroad and we can’t figure out a way to accept the donations, but the reaction was loud and clear, and I am really stunned. At the moment, Lee, of Bacolod, is helping with t-shirt design, I have sent folks to Divisoria to buy sample shirts which are getting a sample silkscreen design on them so we can determine what works or doesn’t. We have found some tote bag suppliers and I have asked others to quote a price. Wonderful readers have offered their time, places of business as a pick-up point, etc. I have secured a promise from a major weekend market that they will allow a pick-up day or two (though details are still being worked out), and, best of all, I have JUST visited a public school in Cebu that might be one of the recipients of this program…

I had originally thought to sponsor just one school in Manila, but with the response, it might be nice to spread the cheer to 2-3 schools. After my half-hour visit to a small public school in Cebu with 1,100 students in 6 grades, I am even more encouraged to figure out this program. At this particular school, an estimated 300+ kids out of the 1,100 are considered severely malnourished or malnourished/underweight for their age. If we introduced a program for say the 50 most severely malnourished in grades 1-3, we could feed them 3 times a week for up to 18-20 weeks! That would be half a school year! I realize this is a drop in the bucket, literally and figuratively, but if you saw these kids, if you saw the school, you would be literally moved to tears. I have to be honest and say I haven’t spent a lot of time in public schools, and I am awed by what they can achieve with so little resources at their disposal. I do want to help. I will figure this out. I hope all of you will see that this is one of the best things we can all do this Christmas. Final details for this program should be up in 10-15 days. Thank you for your support thus far!!! But please understand there is just one of me, and I cannot accommodate everyone or every suggestion. The program must work with limited resources, thus the limited locations for pick-up, the inability to take cheques, the limited shirt designs, totes, etc., etc. If you still want to put your names in for t-shirts, please return to the original post through this link. Maraming salamat!!!

COMMENTS:

Sounds excellent. You are probably going to be overburdend by the organisation of all this. Let us know, aside from donations, if there is anything extra we can do out here….

Oct 3, 2007 | 4:14 pm

elaine
says:

You’re not alone in this endeavor..your readers are all behind you and supporting you on this noble act of giving. And as a bonus, a lot of your readers will be proud to be distinguished as a marketmanila fan by wearing your cute tees!

Oct 3, 2007 | 4:46 pm

whit
says:

market man, i have a suggestion for the tote bag. i interviewed these women who recycle campaign materials and billboards into tote bags, which they send to poor schoolkids. maybe you can check them (and their wares) out. like you, they are also into corp. social responsibility.

thank you MM for the update. i went to a public school (grade school) so your effort is quite close to my heart. hope to support you in any way i can.

Oct 3, 2007 | 7:01 pm

Maria Clara
says:

Iâ€™m with you on this worthy program. I owe everything whatever I have now with our schools. I was educated from kindergarten to college through our school system. I can forego my T-shirts please find avenues to ensure my donation gets to your program.

Oct 4, 2007 | 12:28 am

lojet
says:

YES! to Cebu, now I am even more inspired to help.

Oct 4, 2007 | 12:32 am

Silly Lolo
says:

Keep it rolling,Â MM! We will all be there to help. Do not lose heart dear “Expats”, there has to be a way to get money to MM and the project.

Oct 4, 2007 | 12:48 am

flip4ever
says:

I hope the generosity of your readers is not going to unduly burden you with donating more funds than you originally intended to. Here’s hoping your lawyer(s) can come up with something workable within your project timeframe.

Oct 4, 2007 | 1:50 am

nunosapunso
says:

it’s not a drop in the bucket….it’s effect you have on each individual.

Oct 4, 2007 | 4:16 am

Onie
says:

this is such a great endeavour and all your readers support you 101%. i live in canada but have sisters who will liaise for me. also, i will encourage them as well as friends and relatives to participate in this project. whatever we can do to give some hope to the less fortunate children. thank you, marketman.

Oct 4, 2007 | 6:44 am

Bengski
says:

Grabe! Bless your heart MM!
I am supporting you 100%!

Oct 4, 2007 | 8:09 am

CecileJ
says:

Agree, agree! Thanks for allowing us to be part of this. Again, give a holler if you need our help. God bless all the kind hearts! There’s hope for our country yet!!!!!

Oct 4, 2007 | 2:42 pm

smiles4angels
says:

*patiently waiting*

Oct 4, 2007 | 3:51 pm

Nancy
says:

Thanks for this opportunity you’ve opened for us. Will wait for the details.

Oct 4, 2007 | 5:16 pm

kulasa
says:

Yey! Can’t wait for this to happen. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to share whatever we can. A little from everyone does come out a lot for the kids.

MM, my family (wife, son age 15, daughter age 13 and myself) are ready to volunteer here in Cebu. Just let us know when.

Oh….and where can we make payment and pickup for the t-shirts and tote bag here.

Oct 21, 2007 | 3:18 pm

Marichu
says:

I’m in favor of the idea! I do have a couple of questions, though. First, who assessed the children as severely malnourished? Was he/she a nurse/doctor? Second, if there was a health professional who made the assessment, I wonder if he/she assessed for worm infestations, too. What I’m trying to get at is there’s no use feeding the kids if it’s the worms that are enjoying the fruits of your labor, pun intended.
But don’t let me rain on your parade. I’ve experienced hunger as a child so I know first-hand what these kids are going through.

Marichu, good questions, severely malnourished is based on the child’s age, weight and standards or norms for the child’s age. In most cases, the kids fall 30-40% below their normal weights. As for worms, I have thought about this and the program may possibly commence with a de-worming pill, voluntarily of course as I don’t think you can force the kids to take any medication… even if it is good for them. :)

Oct 23, 2007 | 7:24 pm

kim
says:

i am really happy that someone is still concern.i really can’t offer much but i pray that you’ll be able to be a great blessing and inspiration to a lot of people. God bless you!